Trade in goods

Export and import goods with confidence. Find tariffs, prove origin, and clear customs by market.

THE JOURNEY

Exporting goods, in five steps

From understanding the trade deal to clearing the border - here is the whole path, with every piece of jargon explained as you go.

1

STEP 1 KNOW THE DEAL

Tariffs are already gone on nearly all goods within ASEAN.

Under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), import duties have been removed on almost all products traded between the ten ASEAN member states - so your goods can move across the region with far lower costs.

ATIGA

ATIGA is the agreement that lets goods flow freely between the 10 ASEAN countries - tariffs have been removed on nearly all products.

2

STEP 2 · CHECK YOUR TARIFF

Look up the duty rate and origin rules for your exact product.

The ASEAN Tariff Finder shows the preferential tariffs that apply to your product under ASEAN’s free trade agreements, plus the Rules of Origin used to decide whether your product qualifies for those lower rates.

Rules of Origin

Look up your product to see the preferential tariff that applies, and check the rules of origin that decide whether it qualifies for that rate.

3

STEP 3 · FIND THE RULES

Read the regulations for the market you’re selling into.

The ASEAN Trade Repository (ATR) is a single point of access to trade information for every member state, organised around nine topics defined in ATIGA, with the detailed content held in each country’s National Trade Repository.

National Trade Repository

A single point of access to every member state’s trade information, linked to each country’s own National Trade Repository.

4

STEP 4 · PROVE YOUR ORIGIN

Get the electronic Certificate of Origin (e-Form D).

To claim the preferential ATIGA tariff, you need to submit the ATIGA e-Form D - an Electronic Certificate of Origin. Since the end of 2019, cross-border trade using e-Form D is granted preferential tariffs within the region. e-Form D is submitted at national level in your target country where you register with a relevant agency to start the process.

E-FORM D

A digital Certificate of Origin. Since the end of 2019, using e-Form D for cross-border trade is given preferential tariffs within the region.

5

STEP 5 · CLEAR CUSTOMS

Prepare your documents and move goods through the border.

Customs clearance covers preparing and submitting documents, paying any duties, and taking delivery of goods. Typical documents include the purchase order, sales invoice, packing list, shipping bill, bill of lading or airway bill, and Certificate of Origin - depending on country, product and buyer.

Documentary compliance

Prepare and submit your documents, pay any duties, and take delivery once goods are cleared. Procedures are provided for air, sea and land transport.

WHY IT’S WORTH IT

Businesses that export grow faster.

Research from trade agencies worldwide shows that exporting companies are more productive, more innovative, and more profitable than those that stay domestic.

59%

more productive

UK figures: exporting vs. non-exporting companies

78%

found new ideas & innovation

UKTI survey: companies operating internationally

70%

improved products & services

UKTI survey: companies operating internationally

2×

the annual revenue

Industry Canada: exporters vs. non-exporters

3×

the 3-year return

Deloitte: exporters’ cumulative return vs. non-exporters

Regulations for trade in ASEAN Member States

Every country handles customs differently. Pick a market to see how long clearance takes, what it costs, and exactly where to register, certify, and resolve issues - straight from official sources.

Brunei Darussalam
Average customs release · Doing Business 2020
Exporting
Time to clear
Documentary 57%155
Border 43%117
Cost to clear
Documentary 20.9%$90
Border 79.1%$340

Bars are scaled across all ASEAN markets so you can compare. The lighter segment is border compliance (clearance & inspection); the solid segment is documentary compliance (paperwork).

Download Information
Cambodia
Average customs release · Doing Business 2020
Exporting
Time to clear
Documentary 73.3%132
Border 26.7%48
Cost to clear
Documentary 21.1%$100
Border 78.9%$375

Bars are scaled across all ASEAN markets so you can compare. The lighter segment is border compliance (clearance & inspection); the solid segment is documentary compliance (paperwork).

Download Information
Indonesia
Average customs release · Doing Business 2020
Exporting
Time to clear
Documentary 10.5%6
Border 89.5%51
Cost to clear
Documentary 38.6%$130
Border 61.4%$207

Bars are scaled across all ASEAN markets so you can compare. The lighter segment is border compliance (clearance & inspection); the solid segment is documentary compliance (paperwork).

Download Information
Lao PDR
Average customs release · Doing Business 2020
Exporting
Time to clear
Documentary 87%60
Border 13%9
Cost to clear
Documentary 62.7%$235
Border 37.3%$140

Bars are scaled across all ASEAN markets so you can compare. The lighter segment is border compliance (clearance & inspection); the solid segment is documentary compliance (paperwork).

Download Information
Malaysia
Average customs release · Doing Business 2020
Exporting
Time to clear
Documentary 55.6%35
Border 44.4%28
Cost to clear
Documentary 52.5%$235
Border 47.5%$213

Bars are scaled across all ASEAN markets so you can compare. The lighter segment is border compliance (clearance & inspection); the solid segment is documentary compliance (paperwork).

Download Information
Myanmar
Average customs release · Doing Business 2020
Exporting
Time to clear
Documentary 50.3%144
Border 49.7%142
Cost to clear
Documentary 24.5%$140
Border 75.5%$432

Bars are scaled across all ASEAN markets so you can compare. The lighter segment is border compliance (clearance & inspection); the solid segment is documentary compliance (paperwork).

Download Information
The Philippines
Average customs release · Doing Business 2020
Exporting
Time to clear
Documentary 46.2%36
Border 53.8%42
Cost to clear
Documentary 10.4%$53
Border 89.6%$456

Bars are scaled across all ASEAN markets so you can compare. The lighter segment is border compliance (clearance & inspection); the solid segment is documentary compliance (paperwork).

Download Information
Singapore
Average customs release · Doing Business 2020
Exporting
Time to clear
Documentary 16.7%2
Border 83.3%10
Cost to clear
Documentary 9.9%$37
Border 90.1%$335

Bars are scaled across all ASEAN markets so you can compare. The lighter segment is border compliance (clearance & inspection); the solid segment is documentary compliance (paperwork).

Download Information
Thailand
Average customs release · Doing Business 2020
Exporting
Time to clear
Documentary 20%11
Border 80%44
Cost to clear
Documentary 30.3%$97
Border 69.7%$223

Bars are scaled across all ASEAN markets so you can compare. The lighter segment is border compliance (clearance & inspection); the solid segment is documentary compliance (paperwork).

Download Information
Viet Nam
Average customs release · Doing Business 2020
Exporting
Time to clear
Documentary 47.6%50
Border 52.4%55
Cost to clear
Documentary 32.4%$139
Border 67.6%$290

Bars are scaled across all ASEAN markets so you can compare. The lighter segment is border compliance (clearance & inspection); the solid segment is documentary compliance (paperwork).

Download Information
KEEP EXPLORING

Country Trade Guides for ASEAN Markets

Go beyond the regulations - take a look at the agreements, support organisations, and trade opportunities for every country.

Go to Trade with ASEAN

Organisation

Manage your core business details used across ASEAN Access.

Organisation logo

STEP 2: Organisation Details

Add marketplace item

Create a new offer or request for a product, service, or technology.